Letter To The Editor

 LETTER TO THE EDITOR

“Letters To The Editor” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Jefferson County Post nor any of its employees.  The Jefferson County Post does not underwrite any of the facts or situations mentioned in the letters.

Submitted by: Cecelia Puryear, White Pine, TN

I don’t know how many Jefferson County residents are aware of the recent happenings at Jefferson County Commission meetings concerning our Environmental Health Department and Director Tom Carter.  I am certain few watch the County Commission meetings which are televised locally and many are unaware of the continued need for our own county’s Environmental Health Department.  It has become increasingly evident that some of the Jefferson County Commissioners are attempting to close this department with little or no input from the public and based upon false information provided by some commissioners and certain members of the Finance Committee.  I am uncertain who will benefit financially from such a closure, but it most certainly will not be the residents of Jefferson County.

For many years our county fought to have our own Environmental Health Department.  Before it was launched 13 years ago, complaints were innumerable concerning the time required for residents, builders, contractors, and realtors to obtain the necessary permits from the state agency previously in charge.  Waiting lists for permits and inspections were long and tedious.  The Jefferson County Environmental Department has stimulated the economy of Jefferson County by reducing time requirements for building and expanding of homes and businesses over the past decade.

To date there have been no complaints filed against the Jefferson County Environmental Health Department directed by Tom Carter.  This department is in the top 10% of the busiest environmental offices in the state.  Tom Carter is one of the most experienced directors in the state.  He holds Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in environmental and public health.  Tom has over 30 years of experience as a developer, realtor, and licensed contractor.  He did plans for sewer, septic systems, water lines, roads, and infrastructure for several residential and commercial systems in Rogersville and in the Tri Cities area while he was a realtor and developer.  Tom Carter is an asset to his department as he draws upon his expertise to save local homeowners, developers, and businesses time and money by helping them find cost effective and timely solutions to issues with sewage, drainage, and environmental concerns. Jefferson County should be quite proud of the work of the Environmental Health Department and exceptionally proud of our lifetime resident, Tom Carter, who is Director of this department.

I do not know why some on the County Commission seem to have a vendetta against Mr. Carter, but it seems evident to me from watching some of the meetings and making inquiries of those aware of the facts that some of our elected officials are using invalid financial and work load records to attempt to persuade Mr. Carter to resign his current position or to publicly validate the abolishment of this necessary office.  The closing of the Environmental Health Department would be a hardship to area residents and developers who would once more be resigned to waiting in long lines for permits and inspections.

The initial efforts of Mr. Carter’s critics became quite apparent in the proposed 2015-2016 budget when Mr. Carter’s salary and the salary of his secretary were dramatically reduced and the only other position in the Environmental department was eliminated.  The Environmental Department was targeted with a higher percentage of financial cuts than any other department in the county.  The secretary’s salary was later reinstated, but Mr. Carter’s salary was not, and the department is now one position short.  Jefferson County has over 350 employees.  Mr. Carter is the only employee in the county who has had a reduction in salary in spite of the current budget surplus.  Ironically, Mr. Carter’s current reduced salary is $5000 less than his beginning salary as director in 2003.

According to the State of Tennessee salary and pay scales, Mr. Carter is currently being paid significantly less than environmental directors in other counties who have comparable education, years of experience, and work volumes.  When Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri supplied the correct state documentation regarding this pay issue to the county commissioners, those state validated figures were ignored.  Figures provided by an unnamed county commissioner were used to legitimize Mr. Carter’s reduction in pay.  Has anyone questioned where these figures were obtained and why they do not match the figures provided by the State of Tennessee?  Can Jefferson County Commissioners or members of the Finance Department clarify why the figures used to make decisions regarding the funding of the Environmental Health Department and Director Tom Carter’s salary were the unauthorized figures rather than those supplied by the state?  Can anyone explain to the voters and residents of Jefferson County why one valuable county department directed by one highly capable and extremely honest man is being targeted for closure?  Can anyone clarify why Jefferson County commissioners are violating the County Financial Management System of 1981 which states that county commission cannot reduce salaries but may only reduce the operating costs for a department allowing the director of the department to make cuts he/she deems necessary?

After reading my take on what has been occurring at recent County Commission meetings, I advise you to contact your local county representative or the State of Tennessee for clarification.  We must become involved and ascertain that our elected officials are doing what is in the best interest of our county.  If any elected officials are putting their own personal agendas before the welfare of the public they serve, our voices must be heard in the voting booths.  All elected officials are accountable to the general public they are to serve.   Videos of the Jefferson County Commission Meetings can be viewed on the Jefferson County website.

Cecelia Puryear
White Pine, TN